Home › Bible verses › 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

1 Peter 2:9, King James Version (KJV)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

World English Bible (WEB)

Read 1 Peter 2:9 in the NIV, ESV and 13 more Bibles, with study notes and the original Greek, in the Path & Light app.

1 Peter 2 (KJV)

  1. 1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
  2. 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
  3. 3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
  4. 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
  5. 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
  6. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
  7. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
  8. 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
  9. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
  10. 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
  11. 11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
  12. 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
  13. 13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
  14. 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
  15. 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
  16. 16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
  17. 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
  18. 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
  19. 19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
  20. 20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
  21. 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
  22. 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
  23. 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
  24. 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
  25. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Related verses

Passages that readers often connect with 1 Peter 2:9, in the King James Version.

  • Exodus 19:5–6

    Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: …

  • Deuteronomy 7:6

    For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

  • Revelation 1:6

    And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Revelation 5:10

    And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

  • Isaiah 61:6

    But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

  • 2 Timothy 1:9

    Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

More verses about identity

Study 1 Peter 2:9 in the app

Read it in the NIV, ESV and 13 more Bibles, see every related verse, and ask what it means. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you once, at launch.

Read our Privacy Policy for how we handle your email. One message at launch, nothing else.

1769 standardized text (eBible.org eng-kjv). Public domain outside the United Kingdom. Text courtesy of the Crosswire Bible Society and eBible.org. World English Bible Protestant Edition (eBible engwebp, 2026-09-15 snapshot). Public domain. World English Bible is a trademark of eBible.org. Text unmodified; footnotes and formatting omitted. Related verses: OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0), from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.